Margaret "Peggy" Mitten

Margaret M. “Peggy” Mitten, 85, passed away peacefully into the loving hands of the Lord, Sunday, July 9, 2017. Born October 9, 1931 in Fargo, ND, she is predeceased by her parents, Herbert G. Nilles and Justine G. Nilles, as well as her husband of 61 years, Jerome P. “Jerry” Mitten, Sr., of Dowagiac, MI. She is survived by her brother, Monsignor Allan F. Nilles of West Fargo, ND, 5 children; M. Susan Mitten (Tom Hester) Milwaukee, WI, Mickey Wepfer (Bob) Delafield, WI, J. Patrick Mitten, Jr. (Kate) Barrington, IL, Daniel J. Mitten (Laurie Jolley) Valparaiso, IN, Charles J. Mitten (Karrie) Escalon, CA, 10 grandchildren; Evan (Rachael) and Justine Decker, Ben and Charlie Wepfer, Barbara Mitten Presnell (Beau) and Maggie Mitten Schapman (Tanner), Erin and Elizabeth Mitten, Ian and Shannon Mitten, and 2 great granddaughters, Eliana Decker and Hartley Katherine Schapman. Peggy was honored as the valedictorian of her high school class in Fargo, ND, and she graduated in 1953 from Mount Mary College in Milwaukee, where she studied Occupational Therapy and met the love of her life, Jerry. They married January 8, 1955. Jerry and Peggy settled and began their family in Milwaukee, WI, moving to Edina, MN in 1962 and to Naperville, IL in 1973. They remained in Naperville until Jerry’s retirement in 1997. Peggy was an active parent who supported all of her children’s endeavors, as well as Jerry’s career in sales. Peggy worked as an Occupational Therapist for many years, and during the 1970-80s, she served as a rehabilitation specialist with an orthopedic hand surgeon. During this same time, she invented and manufactured a leg lifter used extensively by those recovering from leg, hip and knee surgery. Today, leg lifters are so common that many different styles can be purchased on Amazon. In 1977, Peggy and Jerry purchased a lake cottage in Dowagiac, MI and loved to spend summer weekends there with family and friends. Twenty years ago, they retired and split time between their home on Indian Lake and a home in Homosassa, Florida. Peggy will be remembered as a loving mother, social organizer and friend to many. A funeral mass celebrating her life will be held at 1 pm on Tuesday, July 18th, 2017 at St. Jerome Catholic Church in Oconomowoc, WI. A memorial service will be held from 12 pm until 1 pm. Memorial contributions may be made to AngelsGrace Hospice, Oconomowoc, WI.